“You have my commitment that this is my priority — to save this state park; or raise a lot of hell in the meantime.”
Strong words by Texas State Representative Ken King, who serves as Chairman of the Culture, Recreation, and Tourism Committee, during a January 25, 2023 work session of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission.
Among the agenda items for the public meeting was a briefing on the status of the lease for Fairfield Lake State Park.
“I am very disheartened that we don’t have a deal, that there is no room for negotiation on this,” continued State Rep. King.
During the briefing, TPWD Commissioners were informed that the 50-plus year lease for the state park could be lost as early as Friday, February 3rd.
Touted as one Texas’ best state parks, Fairfield Lake State Park includes 14 miles of shoreline along all natural, undeveloped land.
The park provides a wide variety of recreational opportunities to the public; and includes a tremendous amount of infrastructure and improvements funded by taxpayers, since opening its doors in 1971.
The current lease for the state park is under Big Brown Power Company, LLC and includes a 120-day termination notice.
TPWD had been notified in 2018 by Vistra, an owner in the Big Brown Mine, of their intention to sell its 5,000 acres of real estate holdings surrounding Fairfield Lake, including the 1,800-acre state park.
Although offered to the State of Texas initially, Vistra was intent on selling the property as a whole, declining to sell the state park area separately.
This was not a feasible option for the State, at the time, although that has since changed thanks to a 2019 amendment that shifted TPWD funding to the sporting goods tax.
However, in August of 2022, TPWD was notified by Vistra representatives that the property was under contract to be purchased.
The prospective buyer, later identified as the Dallas-based development company Todd Interests, has indicated that they have no intention of continuing the state park lease under their ownership.
Reportedly, possible plans could include developing and marketing the area as a private, gated lakefront community with exclusive access to the lake.
While voicing their frustration, TPWD Commissioners and State legislators are still hopeful that a negotiation to salvage this state park is still a possibility.
“The irony of it being our Centennial 100-year anniversary, and losing one of our gem state parks, is just unacceptable to me,” said Arch “Beaver” Aplin III, Chairman of the TPWD Commission.
“We are hopeful that the buyer and the seller will find a way to put us in the middle and let us keep Fairfield Lake State Park,” continued Chairman Aplin. “We will work hard to find a compromise.”
To assist their efforts, Freestone County Judge Linda Grant signed a proclamation on Monday, January 30, 2023 to Save Fairfield Lake State Park. Contact Jeannie Keeney – County Treasurer if you would like to include your signature as a supporter of the proclamation.
If the sale contract between Vistra and Todd Interests continues to move forward this week, and the state park’s lease is terminated, Fairfield Lake State Park would be forced to close their gates to the public by the first of June.
The process would include canceling reservations, canceling bank accounts and contracts, finding positions for their employees, and other administrative functions.
